Coalitions and Groups Advocating
Nonviolence

Coalitions

*Code
Pink. Women's Preemptive Strike for Peace
Code Pink was organized by Medea Benjamin of
Global Exchange, Starhawk, and Jodie Evans of
UnReasonable Women to oppose war in Iraq from
a feminist perspective. Code Pink's four- month
peace vigil In front of the White House ended
on March 8, International Women's Day. Members
of Code Pink traveled to Iraq in early February
on a peace mission.

*Win
Without WarWin Without War is a broad coalition of
national organizations, founded by Susan Shaer
of WAND; David Cortright of Fourth Freedom forum;
Duane Peterson of True Majority; Bob Edgar of
National Council of Churches; Michael Kieschnick
of Working Assets, and Wes Boyd of Move0n, advocating
alternatives to preemptive war In Iraq. The
coalition offers a mainstream voice. Win Without
War sponsored the Virtual March on Washington
on February 26 and coalition members have launched
innovative TV ad campaigns.

*United
for Peace and Justice
United for Peace and Justice, co-chaired by
Andrea Buffa of Global Exchange, Leslie Cagan
of Pacifica, and Bill Fletcher of TransAfrica,
is an umbrella peace campaign bringing together
the work of human rights, feminist, civil rights,
environmental, anti-poverty, lesbian and gay,
religious, and peace groups united, in opposition
to a war in Iraq. The coalition organized the
February 15 mobilization in New York.

*MoveOn
MoveOn, founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs
Joan Blades and Wes Boyd, is working to bring
ordinary people back into politics. With a
nationwide network of more than 600,000 online
activists, MoveOn conducts large-scale, grassroots
campaigns on issues ranging from
the war in Iraq to judicial nominations, MoveOn's
peace campaign was founded by Eli Pariser, a
recent college graduate.

*Not In
Our Name (NION)
NION was formed to "strengthen and expand
resistance to the U.S. government's course in
the wake of September 11." Many prominent
artists, activists, and intellectuals, including
Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, Eve Ensler, and
Robin Morgan, have signed onto the NION statement
of conscience, which has appeared in full-page
ads in major publications.

*
International
A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now to Stop War & End
Racism) Formed by the International Action Center,
Nicaragua Network, Mexico Solidarity Network,
and Partnership for Civil Justice after September
11 to stop the rush to war and end racism. A.N.S.W.E.R
led three massive demonstrations in Washington
D.C. The organizing is entirely volunteer-driven,
and is led by Sarah Sloan and Sara Friedman.

*
National
Organization for Women (NOW)
with almost half a million members and hundreds
of chapters across the country, is working with
Code Pink and other women's peace organizations
to organize feminist actions against the war.
NOW president Kim Gandy spoke at the February
15 rally in New York City as well as the International
Women's Day peace march and rally on March 8.

*
Global
Exchange
Global Exchange, under the leadership of Medea
Benjamin, works to increase global awareness among
the US public while building international partnerships.
Its leaders are organizing for Code Pink and United
for Peace and Justice.

*
Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom
(WILPF)
WILPF has written an open letter of support and
solidarity to the women of Iraq, pledging their
commitment to opposing a preemptive strike on
Iraq and calling on women worldwide to engage
in nonviolent action for peace.

*
Women's
Employment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Co-founded by the late Bella Abzing, WEOO seeks
to empower women worldwide for social justice,
a healthy and peaceful planeti and human rights
for All. With international feminist organizations,
WEDO prepared a statement at the World Social
forum opposing the Iraq war.

*
Lysistrata
Project
On March 3, readings of the Greek play Lysistrata,
were held all over the country to benefit non-profit
groups working for peace and humanitarian aid
for Iraq. At least 782 readings were scheduled
in 43 countries and all 50 states to voice opposition
to a war against Iraq, and celebrities such as
Kyra Sedgwick, Christine Lahti, and Kevin Bacon
participated. Founded by actors Kathryn Blume
and Sharron Bower, the project includes a study
guide to teach students about peaceful resistance.

*
Sisterhood
Is Global Institute (SIGI)
Founded by feminist scholar Robin Morgan, the
Sisterhood Is Global Institute, based In Quebec,
holds regular peace cafes, bringing together women
activists from Canada and abroad. SIGI is working
with Canadian coalitions for peace and is active
in peace vigils.